Children work on craft projects during a free story, tour and mask workshop at the Chinese School House in Marysville on March 7. The event was organized by the Marysville Chinese Community and Friends of Bok Kai as an early celebration leading up to the annual Bok Kai Parade and Festival.

 

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - This year’s Bok Kai season officially kicked off March 7 at the Chinese School House in Marysville where children and families gathered to make themed crafts, listen to cultural stories and learn more about the local temple’s traditions. Organizers said the event was meant to help build excitement for one of the state’s longest-running cultural celebrations, the 146th annual Bok Kai Parade and Festival, scheduled for March 21-22 in historic downtown Marysville.

This long-held annual celebration honors Bok Kai, the Taoist water god who is the central deity of the Bok Kai Temple in Marysville. The temple is believed to be the only Taoist temple in the United States dedicated primarily to the water god, making the Marysville celebration unique in both California and the nation.

Families participate in crafts and activities during a free story, tour and mask workshop hosted March 7 at the Chinese School House in Marysville. The event served as an early kickoff to the city’s annual Bok Kai Parade and Festival celebration.

Bok Kai’s birthday follows the lunar calendar and is traditionally observed on the weekend closest to the second day of the second month of the lunar year. This year’s festivities also coincide with the Chinese zodiac Year of the Horse, the fire horse to be exact, which will serve as the parade’s theme. The fire horse is commonly associated with passion, independence and bold energy, symbolizing movement, determination and the spirit of adventure.

The Bok Kai weekend festivities begin Friday evening, March 20, with the Bok Kai Ambassador reception at the Marysville Banquet Hall, 800 D St. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and will include a traditional dinner celebration honoring this year’s ambassador, Taegen Jung, a 17-year-old senior at Marysville High School. Tickets for this event can still be purchased online at www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/annual-gala-2028

A child tosses a beanbag during a themed game at the Chinese School House in Marysville on March 7 during a family workshop celebrating the Year of the Horse. The event introduced children to Bok Kai traditions ahead of the 146th annual Bok Kai Parade and Festival.

The centerpiece of the celebration arrives Saturday, March 21, when the 146th annual Bok Kai Parade steps off at 11 a.m. from Sixth and D streets. The parade typically features elaborate floats, lion dancers, marching bands, cultural groups and community organizations celebrating Marysville’s Chinese heritage.

Festivities will continue throughout the afternoon and evening following the parade. A music stage hosted by Woodbutcher will feature live entertainment through the evening, while a community talent show hosted by the Institute of Rock will take place at the First and C streets stage after the parade until about 8 p.m.

The celebration continues Sunday, March 22, with a full day of activities in historic Chinatown. A rib cook-off will begin at 9 a.m. at First and C streets with judging and food sales starting around noon. A car show will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. along C Street between First and Third streets while cultural performances and demonstrations are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Handmade horse masks sit on display during a free story, tour and mask workshop held March 7 at the Chinese School House in Marysville. The activity, hosted by the Marysville Chinese Community and Friends of Bok Kai, helped kick off preparations for the 146th annual Bok Kai Parade and Festival, which will be held later this month.

The weekend concludes at 4 p.m. with one of the festival’s most recognizable traditions, the firing of the bombs at First and C streets. During the ceremony, strings of firecrackers launch ceremonial rings into the air as participants attempt to catch them, a tradition believed to bring good fortune.

For more information about Bok Kai, visit www.bokkaitemple.com or contact Jon Lim, president of the Marysville Chinese Community, at [email protected]